A man was told to “call professionals” after asking the internet about a mystery bug in his home.
Taking to the r/whatsthisbug Reddit forum, the unnamed user uploaded a screenshot of his Google Lens identifying the insect as a “bedbug”. Not wholly convinced by the search engine, he took to the subreddit and asked what it was.
Horrified replies soon followed as people wished the man well. While some users were sympathetic, others cut straight to the point – warning him to call out an exterminator and to stop living in “denial”.
One user wrote: “I understand being in denial but trust and believe if you wait to treat this you will be raining hell down upon yourself. Start treatment NOW. Please…they get so so so bad.”
Another simply added: “I’m so sorry,” while a third redirected the original poster to the r/bedbugs forum.
The original poster later commented to ask: “What should I do.” One reply read: “Don’t try to DIY this. Call professionals. Diatomaceous Earth only kills the bugs that come into direct contact with it. It won’t kill eggs. It won’t kill bugs that don’t walk directly through it.”
A second advised: “A situation in which I would not f**k around and find out. I’m all for DIY, but I would absolutely call an exterminator. Have them check the place out and tell them you found 1 and want to be safe.”
Another user wrote: “It is for sure a bedbug dude, I totally understand the denial, but you have to accept it and get the problem solved, even if you see just one of these things, it’s still really important to get professional exterminators involved to get rid of the problem, or prevent it if it’s really just 1 (which is unlikely).”
Bedbugs are a nasty pest to deal with and can cause damage with their bites, which leave red marks on those unlucky enough to be living in homes suffering an infestation.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the bugs can cause “allergic reactions to their bites, which can be severe. Effects ranging from no reaction to a small bite mark to, in rare cases, anaphylaxis (severe, whole-body reaction).”
According to the NHS, signs of bedbugs include:
- bites – often on skin exposed while sleeping, like the face, neck and arms
- spots of blood on your bedding – from the bites or from squashing a bedbug
- small brown spots on bedding or furniture (bedbug poo)
